Tadaima Japan Shinjuku Ryokan — Hotel in Tokyo

This is not a hotel with proper rooms, it is a dormatory. Each floor has one room, with eight tiny sections divided by very thin walls (open at the roof) and curtains instead of doors. When fully booked, 16 people share the room. The mattresses are thin and hard, Japanese ryokan style. The sleeping sections barely fit two small suitcases when mattresses are rolled out, and has a small wall mounted locker for valuables. Sounds from other guests and the common air conditioner are transferred completely between the sections. There is also no wall between the sleeping area and the common bathroom and shower, so you will hear other guests brush teeth, use the hair dryer etc. There is light from a common ceiling lamp and lamps in neighbouring sections, as well as from the “window” (covered in paper, not possible to open), even though you turned off the lamp in your own section. This is all expected for a dormitory, so if that is what you are after and you have the right expectations and bring ear plugs and sleeping mask this can be a good accommodation alternative, if you get a good price (we payed 7000 yen for two people one night). The place is clean, completely new (opened two months ago), the neighbourhood is great for food and owner is friendly and helpful. However, you can probably get a traditional ryokan with a proper room and private bathroom for almost the same...

Good points:|The staff is VERY friendly and welcoming. They will spend time with you in the lounge answer all your questions about Japanese culture, sightseeing, where to eat... - Great location. Arakicho is not very famous but it's charming at night. Many good bars and restaurants. Walking distance to Shinjuku Gyoen. From there it's easy to reach many interesting parts of Tokyo. - The traditional atmosphere (tatami, woodblock prints). The bathroom is very cool (staff even gave me some salts to feel like I was in an onsen). - The futon was more comfortable than I expected - Special breakfast for which rice is cooked in a sort of traditional claypot - Free historical tour in Arakicho||It was not a problem for me (I actually think it makes the experience more interesting) but this is an Edo period inspired ryokan, to feel like the travelers of the time. Basically it means that: - The rooms are smaller than usual. - Walls are thin so you can hear your neighbour, but everyone is asked to be quiet after 10pm and earplugs are available if needed. - There is no door on your room but a curtain and also a roller blind you can use while you're inside. There is a cute locker to leave your special...

Be warned, this is much closer to a hostel than a hotel. It has some charming touches: there is a communal kitchen where you can chat with travelers. The staff are friendly and offer a wide range of activities for visitors. It is in a good location that is close to transit but not too busy.

However, the rooms are very small. The beds are futons, which is fine, but the rooms barely fit the futons and your bags. There are no proper room doors, just curtains. The walls are open at the top. You will hear other people snoring, use the ear plugs they provide. Bathrooms are shared, which is not uncommon when traveling in Japan. When we stayed there our light stopped working which made it very hard to change into pajamas at night. We had to use phones to see. It made it hard to pack in the morning too -- plus given how thin the walls are we were constantly worried we'd be disturbing other people, which slowed our departure.

So bottom line, this is an experience, but be prepared...